Internal combustion exhaust catalytic reactor monitoring system

Abstract

To supervise operational effectiveness of catalytic reactors included in exhaust emission detoxification systems, an oxygen sensor is located downstream of the reactor to determine oxygen content in the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, the oxygen sensor comprising an ion conductive solid electrolyte forming an ion concentration chain and having catalytically inactive contacts, connected to a detection circuit which provides an output signal in dependence on a signal from the sensor, the output signal operating an alarm, or a transducer which interferes with proper engine operation to force the operator to have the reactor repaired. Preferably, two ion conductive chains are used, in a single sensor, or in two sensors, one being exposed to exhaust gases upstream of the catalytic reactor and the other downstream of the catalytic reactor, the output signals being provided to a differentially connected operational amplifier, to balance out extraneous influences.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.